Moctezuma II Moctezuma II What do we really know about Moctezuma II (also called Montezuma), the Aztec emperor who met Hernan Cortes and saw the start of an incredible clash of civilizations? For centuries scholars have puzzled over the man - what he thought, what drove him, why he made the decisions he did. Let's take a look at the man who ruled in such extraordinary times... Moctezuma views a magic mirror that foretells that coming of the Spaniards. Was the emperor really ruled by superstition, or was he more practical? Picture from the Codex Florentino The basics Moctezuma II, the 9th emperor of the Aztecs, was known as Motecuhzoma Xocoyotzin. Today his name has a lot of spellings, including Montezuma and Motecuhzoma. Modern scholars sometimes call him Moctezuma II to differentiate him from the other emperor of the name , but in his time the number was not used. The name signifies frowning and kingly anger.

He was Heuy Tlatoani Moctezuma, the Great Speaker of the city of Tenochtitlán (read more about the titles of Aztec government ). He was born around 1466, and was to become a successful ruler and general even before he became emperor from 1502-1520. It was in 1517 that the emperor first got the news that strangers had landed on the coast. On the 8th of November 1519, Cortes and Moctezuma met. Over the next few months, he was used and imprisoned by the Spanish as the conquest progressed. He died in 1520 during a battle with the Spanish, though the exact cause of his death is a matter of disagreement. Controversy Actually, that's not the only thing that's a matter of disagreement. Just about every aspect of Moctezuma II has been open to controversy. The problem is that sources are highly contradictory. Somebody was rewriting history, or maybe everybody was. The Spanish were no doubt anxious to justify the conquest of the empire. The indigenous peoples themselves may have wanted someone to blame as well.

For this reason, it's hard to get beyond the basics and really understand the man. The expansion of the empire In many ways, this emperor is believed to have been harsh in the ruling of his empire. This may be the reason why Cortes was able to find allies among the cities of Mexico in his conquest. Many may have been happy for the chance to free themselves from the powerful Aztecs. But was it Moctezuma II that was really the target of this hate, or just the powerful Mexica culture? When it came to conquering and expansion, it was really the previous emperor that steals the spotlight - Ahuitzotl. The empire went through stages of expansion, and Ahuitzotl was the emperor in charge of the most recent one. He more than doubled the area of dominance. One of the great generals that fought his battles, however, was his nephew - Moctezuma. When he came to power after Ahuitzotl's death, it was natural that his job should be to consolidate the power that had come so recently to the Aztecs. He strengthened the reign of himself and his nobles, though his conquests were not as widespread as the ruler before him.

Moctezuma II: His rule Evidence seems to be mounting that Moctezuma II was actually an industrious and clever ruler. It may be that he has been misjudged from his encounter and loss to the Spanish as indecisive, superstitious and capitulating. He ruled an empire of 5-6 million people. Would that empire have continued a thousand years? Or was it already about to be torn apart by civil war? Either way, many today suggest that he accomplished a lot in the building and maintaining of the empire, until its fall. His end Moctezuma's headdress, probably worn when he met Cortés. Originally a helmet of gold topped with 400 feathers, Cortés has the gold melted and the head piece sent to Charles V of Spain. Spanish Arrival, Cortez, Conquest of the Aztecs - Aztecs for Kids FAQ, About Us When the Spanish arrived, normally they would have been captured and sacrificed immediately. That's how the Aztecs did things. But, in the 1500s, when the Spanish conquistador, Hernan Cortes, entered Aztec territory with a small band of his men, the Aztec misunderstood why they were there.

The Aztecs through they were sent by their god, Quetzalcoatl. Quetzalcoatl, a very important god to the Aztecs, had vowed he would appear when the end of the world was near, to save the Aztec people. The Aztecs always believed the end of the world was near. That's why they scarified so many people. They were trying to keep their gods happy so the god would postpone the end of the world. The Spanish had no idea at first how lucky they were to be alive after they entered the capital city. The Spanish were looking for people to convert to the Catholic religion, and gold to capture. Boy, did they people and gold! The city was clean and bustling. There were restaurants and hairdressers and shops galore! Artists were everywhere, painting and sculpting. About 60,000 people sold and bought in the shops each day. There was clear evidence of gold. There were many pieces of gold jewelry encrusted with jewels for sale in some of the shops. Other displayed gold statues. Spanish eyes grew wide with wonder. The Spanish stayed for quite a while as guests of the emperor.

Cortes later wrote a letter to the Spanish Emperor, back in Spain. In his letter, he said: ï¿½We lodged in the chiefï¿½s house, situated in the most refreshing gardens ever seen. In their midst flows a beautiful stream, beset with gay flower beds, an infinite number of different fruit trees, many herbs and fragrant flowers. Three hundred men had charge of these birds for their sole employment. Over each pool there were beautifully decorated galleries and corridors, where Moctezuma came to amuse himself by watching them. I do not mention the other diverting things Moctezuma had in the city, because they were so many and so various.ï¿½ The longer the Spanish stayed in the capital city, the more suspicious the Aztec leaders became. The Spanish did not act like gods. They did not attend the sacrifice ceremonies that were given in their honor. The Aztecs decided it was time for the Spanish to leave. They did not want to kill them because they might be gods after all, but the Aztecs wanted them to move along. The Spanish were secretly glad to leave. For some time, they had been wondering how to escape alive. When the Spanish returned, they were prepared.

They brought dogs and horses and weapons and many fighting men. They also had the help of other tribes in the area, who had no idea how cruel Spanish rule would become. The other tribes just wanted to get rid of the awful Aztecs. But it was disease that actually defeated the Aztecs. They had no protection against simple childhood diseases like measles that the Spanish brought with them. The Aztec Empire collapsed. Conquest of the Aztec Empire Part I Conquest of the Aztec Empire Part I Home » 16th Century - The Empire Expands » Conquest of the Aztec Empire Part I Conquest of the Aztec Empire Part I Hernán Cortés was born in Seville in 1485. By then America wasn't even discovered, but a few decades later he would be the one to conquer one of the most powerful empires in the new continent: the Aztec empire. By the time Ferdinand I died, it was already "known" that there were tribes in the Americas that had wealth beyond imagining in gold and other precious metals.

The ever ambitious empire wanted to get their hands on that gold so the Spanish course was to pass a law that was called gold rescue, which meant any Spaniard could to travel to America to "trade" with the natives as long as they gave 20% to the King (quinto real). But this so called trade only meant that the conquistadors would end up subjugating, exploiting and enslaving the indigenous people In 1517 Mexico was discovered, though at first they believed it was an Island. The first expedition, whose mission was to get more slaves to take to Cuba failed, most of its men died after being attacked by Mayan natives in different locations of the Yucatan peninsula. Two natives were captured who learned Spanish and either from mistranslations or misleading on behalf of the prisoners, it was confirmed that there was plenty of gold up for grabs. The second expedition was more successful, since the Spaniards that took sail had a more friendly contact with the natives and were gifted with masks adorned with gold and later gold pieces.

When the Cuban governor Diego Velazquez de Cuellar heard the accounts of the voyage and saw the gold he immediately sent messages to the King Charles I (the Charles V), along with some golden objects Hernan Cortez was chosen as captain of the third expedition. Of a total of 11 ships, he contributed 3. But little before the fleet set out Velazquez de Cuellar changed his mind and decided to remove Cortés from the expedition. Cortez, not happy with the news, decided to leave Santiago de Cuba, thus evading orders. However on the appointed day he did appear in the pier and left with the ships on November 18, 1518. Hernan Cortez' expedition disembarked several times to replenish their food and water supplies. Most of the encounters with natives were of a friendly nature. Until then the Spanish school of thought was not the crushing one that would become famous worldwide. The Mayan natives believed that the best way to get rid of the Europeans was to give them gold and women, thinking that once they obtained what they wanted they wouldn't return, however, they produced exactly the opposite result.

They didn't know that the message the Spaniards got was "never ending source of gold". However the first battle took place in Centla in March 14, 1419, when the natives rejected subjugating to the Spaniards. The conquistadors obtained the victory, mainly due to their superiority in weaponry and the leverage the horses gave them: it was the first time the Mayan people had seen men mounted on horses and were deadly afraid of them. When the battle was over, the chaplain of the expedition performed the first Catholic mass in New Spain. Hernan Cortez founded Santa María de la Victoria (later the capital of Tabasco). Once the chontales mayan natives were defeated they gave 20 women to the Spaniards as token, among them Mallinalli Tenépatl (known as Doña Marina by the Spanish and Malintzin by the natives), who once she learned Spanish became an invaluable translator and later had a son with Hernan Cortez who he called Martín just like his son by his Spanish wife. Martín, el mestizo would become a central figure in of the conquest: his presence and acts were invaluable in the emergence of a new race.

Malintzinm (or Malinche) is considered the mother and icon of the mixed races, and representative of the Mexican nationality. The Aztec Empire (the Mexica) The Aztec Empire , like any proper empire needed to expand in order to grow and survive. During the 15th century they had spread over vast territories, subjugating various peoples and making them tributary. The aztec empire was feared and hated by the other native clans and tribes they had conquered. In 1517, the Mexica governor, Moctezuma Xocoyotzin (also known as Montezuma) carried on with the expansion campaigns. Moctezuma was a fervent believer in the religious mythology which said that the God Quetzalcoatl (feathered snake of beautiful plumage). His second coming was expected, much like the second coming of Jesus is expected nowadays by Christians. Most importantly, one of his representations was that of a white bearded man. Moctezuma had previously sent gifts: gold and turquoise masks, still convinced it was Quetzalcoatl. In turn Hernan Cortez gave them yellow and green beads, a chair and a helmet.

To the Mexicas the latter represented Huitzilopochtli , the god of war. To make matters worse Cortez wanted to show-off his military power to impress the Mexica ambassadors, so he organized a a horse race with artillery shots. Messengers were sent immediately to the Aztec empire's capital: Tenochtitlan . As soon as Moctezuma got the news he believed it wasn't Quetzalcoatl, but perhaps other darker and less benevolent deities. He felt afraid and sent further messages telling the Spanish that it would be impossible to receive them in Tenochtitlan and urged them to leave as soon as possible, along with sending more presents of gold and other treasures. Once again, this only woke the greed of the conquistadors: Hernan Cortez realized the Aztec empire's wealth was enormous...and also that the subjected peoples resented the Mexica. So instead, he went further inland instead of away. When he first encountered the totonacs , he offered to free them from the Mexica in exchange for a military alliance. Thus began Hernan Cortez' strategy which would allow him to be captain of a rebellion of peoples subjugated by the Mexicas.

If the Spaniards had stood alone, it's likely they'd had never made it. It was a stroke of genius. If you want to continue reading about the Conquest of the Aztec Empire, go to part II . © 2012, Spanish Wars. | Sitemap. Mexico History Spanish Conquest Twitter The Aztec empire reached its height in the early 16th century, under Emperor Moctezuma . That was also the time that Spanish adventurers were swarming by the hundreds to the West Indies, following the discovery of the Americas in 1492 by Christopher Columbus. The first contact with Mexico occurred in 1517, when explorer Francisco Hernández de Córdoba landed on the Yucatan coast. A subsequent expedition by Juan de Grijalva confirmed a land dominated by a powerful people who were despised by those forced to pay tribute to them. The Spanish governor of Cuba, Diego Velazquez, then sent a larger force under Hernán Cortés , with instructions to trade with the inhabitants.

Cortés had more ambitious plans, however, and after landing on the coast of Veracruz , in 1521, made his way to Tenochtitlán—today, ruins of the Templo Mayor archaeology site in the center of Mexico City—the then center of power of the Aztec empire, which was built in the middle of a lake. Using a mixture of terror and persuasion, Cortés gained allies during his march toward Tenochtitlán. Moctezuma received the Spanish with honors, fearing that they may be gods, according to an ancient prophecy. Problems began when Cortés had to leave the city to meet a Spanish force sent by Velazquez to arrest him. When he returned, the Aztecs were fighting to expel the Spanish. Cortés made Moctezuma go onto the roof of the palace to tell his people to withdraw, but the Aztec chief was received with a barrage of stones, wounding him. He died several days later, and under the war-like leader Cuitláhuac , the Aztecs continued their fight against the invaders.

The Spanish attempted to escape one night, known as the Noche Triste (somber night): they were discovered as they crept along one of the roadways that led out of the city, and a fierce battle ensued in which Cortés lost many of his men. Cortés afterwards took refuge with his Tlaxcalteca allies. In June 1521, Cortés started the final assault on Tenochtitlán armed with small ships to use on the lake, and with thousands of local Indian allies. By August that year he had captured the city, and made a prisoner of the new Aztec leader Cuauhtémoc . Cuitláhuac had died in an outbreak of smallpox which decimated the local population. America, Spanish conquest | South African History Online South African History Online European expansion, conquest and the slave trade 15-18th century Related articles The content below has been modified to align with the 2011/2012 curriculum changes Conquest, warfare and Spanish early colonialism in the Americas The Caribbean Islands On his first voyage, Columbus claimed San Salvador, Cuba and Hispaniola as Spanish possessions.

He built a fort and left behind Spanish soldiers to hunt for gold on Hispaniola, while he returned to Spain. (These men were later murdered by the inhabitants of the island for mistreating them.) On his second voyage, Columbus took a thousand Spanish colonists to settle in Hispaniola. This was the first European colony in the ‘New World’. These colonists fought among themselves and with the inhabitants of the island. They were greedy and complained that there was not enough gold to make them all rich. They were given land and allowed to force the indigenous people to work for them, but they were still not satisfied. The colonists were also responsible forintroducing foreign epidemic diseases such as influenza, smallpox, measles and typhus, which drastically reduced the indigenous population in the Caribbean within 50 years. Columus’ First Voyage to San Salvador, Cuba and Hispaniola. Source: wikipedia Spain Conquest After Christopher Colombus 'discovered' the Americas in 1492, he was made governor of the new territories. These conquests were soon followed by the colonisation of most of South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, Mexico and much of the United States of America (USA).

In 1494 Spain and Portugal signed the Treaty of Tordisillas, which was meant to divide the globe in two spheres of influence, so that the two empires would not interfere with each other's explorations and conquests. West of the line would be Spain's sphere of influence and east would be Portugal's. The line ran through what is today South America and particularly Brazil. The result was that most of South and Central America fell into the hands of Spain. Portugal colonised Brazil, which they discovered in 1500 and lies east of the line of Tordisillas. In the early 16th century, the Spanish began their conquest of the Americas. As far as they went, they subjugated local populations and imposed Christianity upon them. The Spanish soldiers, explorers and other adventurers who conquered these lands were called 'conquistadors', which means conquerors. Many came hoping to make a fortune. The Caribbean islands Hispaniola (which means 'Little Spain' and is today divided into Haiti and the Dominican Republic), Puerto Rico and Cuba were among the first American lands to be conquered. In 1512, the first Spaniards to settle on the American mainland did so in Panama.

But not all the American land was brought under Spanish control. In many cases, the conquistadors had to fight against stronger local adversaries before land could be claimed for the Spanish crown. In Mexico, it took Hernán Cortés and his men over 2 years to subdue the Aztec empire. In 1521 he succeeded with the help of Native American allies and called Mexico "New Spain". The fall of the mighty Inca empire followed and was complete the by 1533. The conquistadors were notorious for their cruelty and ferocity. Local populations were enslaved, abused and killed. In 1542, colonial laws were introduced to protect the Amerindians. In 1552 a book about the conquistadors' abuse was published by Bartolomé de las Casas. It was called a Short Account of the Destruction of the West Indies. The American mainland In the early 1500s the Spanish began to conquer the mainland of Central and South America. Vasco NÁºÁ±ez de Balboa, a Spanish merchant, was considered the first of the conquistadors. Balboa is best known as the first European to see the Pacific Ocean.

However, his expedition did not end well as one of his rivals, the newly appointed governor of Darien (Panama) had him executed. Today, Panama honours Balboa by naming its monetary unit, the balboa, after him. America’s timeline 300 - 900 The Mayan civilisation. 900 - 1200 The Toltecs and Chichimec peoples establish the city of Tula. 1100 - 1530 The Inca civilisation. 1345 -1530 The Aztec civilisation. 1492 Christopher Columbus arrives in Latin America. 1494 Treaty of Tordesillas. 1497 Voyage to North America by John Cabot. 1500 Discovery of Brazil by Pedro Cabral. 1519 Magellan sails around the world. 1519 -1521Conquest of New Spain (Mexico) by Hernán Cortés. 1524 Council of the Indies established in Spain. 1531 - 1538 Conquest of Peru by Francisco Pizarro. 1549 Permanent settlement of Brazil begins.

1550 - 1690s Jesuits explore the South American interior. Activity: Write these events on the board or projector, but in the WRONG order. The students should try to recall the correct order in their notebooks Conquering the Aztec and Inca Empires: The processes of conquest and colonialism In the mid-fifteenth century, the powerful empires of the Aztecs and Incas dominated large areas of the Americas. There was no trade across the Atlantic Ocean at this stage. Before European exploration and colonisation, Arab merchants traded with the countries in the East. The Arabs had a monopoly or complete control over the overland trade routes across the land to the East. The Arabs charged high taxes on all the trade that passed through the overland routes they controlled. These high taxes made the price of products like gold, silk and spices that Europeans wanted, more expensive for them to buy. Europeans wanted to find their own sea route to the East that did not cross Arab lands. The Europeans knew very little about Africa and the East, and in order to find another trade route, they went on voyages or journeys of exploration across the sea.

European countries fought with each other on sea and land to control the trade routes and the countries they discovered. There were two ancient civilisations in central and South America which the Spanish were particularly interested in. Both the Inca Empire of Peru and the Aztec Empire of Mexico held many riches. The Aztecs were the first great Native American civilisation with which the Spaniards came into contact. Conquering the Aztec Empire Before we can examine the conquest of the Aztecs, we need to understand who the Aztecs were. The Aztecs In 1345 the Aztecs travelled south to central Mexico, where they founded a large lakeside city called Tenochtitlán. The Aztecs were a warlike, bloodthirsty poeple and through their violent conquests of other groups they grew wealthy and powerful. They demanded that those they conquered pay tribute to them. By the early 16th century, the Aztecs dominated Mexico, especially the southern part. It is believed that the Aztec empire of over 10 million people had a strong military tradition and a well established trading network. Merchants travelled through the whole empire, trading as well as serving as ambassadors, spies and sometimes soldiers.

The Aztec monetary system was based on cocoa seeds, and the markets were very well organised. More than 60 000 people came to the market in the capital daily. When the Spanish came to Mexico and saw these markets, they declared that they had never seen anything like it in Europe. A mural by Mexican artist Diego Rivera (1886-1957), showing his impression of the building of the Aztec city Tenochtitlán. Source: The Aztecs were influenced by an earlier civilisation, the Toltecs, who ruled the area between 900 and 1200 AD. Toltec workers and merchants taught the Aztecs how to make objects from feathers and gold, how to interpret the stars and how to use a calendar. The Aztecs knew how to restore land from the lake – in other words, to dry up sections of the lake in order to expand the islands. This was done by piling mud onto beds of straw inside wooden fences. In this way, they also built new land areas. They followed a hieroglyphic writing system, and wrote documents on paper made from tree bark. Documents included tax lists, legal documents, religious texts and historical writings.

These documents reveal much about the Aztecs. The modern Mexican flag bears an eagle with a snake in its beak. The symbol comes from an Aztec legend. According to this legend, the gods had promised the Aztecs land they would be able to recognise through the presence of an eagle sitting on a cactus, holding a snake in its beak. They found the eagle on an island in Lake Texcoco, where they settled. According to another Aztec legend, the god Quetzalcoatl had been defeated by an evil god and disappeared into the eastern (Atlantic) sea. He had foretold that he would return from the same sea, leading a group of white-skinned, bearded men, to defeat his enemies. When the Spaniards came from the east, white-skinned and bearded, the Aztecs did not fear them. Instead, they welcomed them as their deity and his group of warriors, which made it so much easier for the Europeans to conquer the Aztecs. Who were the Mayans, and how do they relate to the Aztecs? Between 300 and 900 AD, the Mayas were a very strong and developed civilisation in Central America.

They are often compared to the Romans. They had a complicated hieroglyphic writing and a mathematics system, and their calendar was more exact than the European's calendar. Civil wars and invasions weakened the mighty empire. In around 1200 the Mayas were conquered by the Toltecs, who absorbed Mayan architecture, art and religion. Even later, the Aztecs took over and at the same time took over aspects of Toltec and so Mayan culture. By the time the Europeans came, the grand Maya civilisation had collapsed. All that was left were small groups. These were unable to unite against the European invaders, and the Spaniards conquered the groups one by one. Conquest Case Study 1 Modern-day Mexico City is situated on the site of the great Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan. The Emperor headed a very complex society that was ruled partly by religion and fear. The Aztecs believed they were the chosen people of the gods. Their chief god was Huitzilpochtli who represented the sun. The victorious sun rose each morning, drove off the moon and stars and captured the daytime sky. But the sun's victory was short-lived. Each afternoon and evening, the sun sank in tired defeat.

For the sun to successfully rise each day, it had to be nourished with human blood. This blood was supplied by victims were captured during war. The Aztecs therefore went to war continuously. Those who were defeated and incorporated into the Empire were never happy with Aztec rule. The Aztec calendar had 365 days. It was used more than 100 years before the Gregorian calendar (used in our world today) and shows the level of sophistication of Aztec science. The Aztec calendar is recorded as a carving on the Aztec sun stone currently on exhibit in Mexico City. The sun stone is filled with symbols that refer to human sacrifice. At the centre is a sacrificial knife sticking out from the mouth of the central deity and talons on either side of the deity's face which grasp human hearts. The Spanish king sent a general called Hernando Cortes to find the Aztecs. The Aztecs lived in a fertile valley 2000 metres above sea level, the water from the surrounding mountains watered their crops, which included maize, cotton, beans and chili peppers.

The capital was at Tenochtitlin (today called Mexico City), a vast city with causeways and bridges and huge stone buildings and temples. Their leader at the time that Cortes and the Spanish soldiers arrived, was Montezuma. Montezuma at first welcomed the Spanish as the Aztecs thoughts they might be holy men, but they were soon to realise this was not so. The Spanish conquistadors were only interested in the gold. Cortes came with 16 horses (which the Aztecs had never seen before), 14 cannons, steel swords and crossbows. This made them stronger in battle against the Aztecs. The Spanish were also made stronger by being able to get help from the oppressed enemies of the Aztec Empire who were willing to assist them. They were also helped by an interpreter called Dona Marina. Her birth name was Malinalli. After a battle with Cortes, the defeated native Americans gave her to Cortes as a peace offering. The Spanish baptised her into the Catholic faith and she was renamed. She learnt Spanish, lived with Cortes and later gave birth to his son. She could speak the Aztec language and told Cortes everything she knew about the Aztecs.

In 1521, after two years of resistance, the Aztec Empire fell to the Spanish. Montezuma was killed, and many Spaniards and Aztecs lost their lives. The following information will still be developed for this ‘Aztec’ topic: – Slavery and its impact on the Aztecs – Consequences on the Aztecs Please contribute activities and content for this section by clicking on the ‘contribute’ button. Conquering the Inca Empires Before we can examine the conquest of the Incas, we need to understand who the Incas were. The Incas Around 1100 AD, the Incas came to the Andean region from the south and founded the city Cuzco. They began the expansion of their empire by conquering small groups in what is today southern Peru, and eventually subjugated the entire Andean coast and highlands. At its height, the Incan empire stretched from modern northern Ecuador to central Chile and included territory in modern-day Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile and Argentina. An Inca artifact: a knife handle made from solid gold.

Source: The emperor was called 'Inca', and it was believed that he was the son of the sun, the most important Inca god. Society was organised in clans. The Incas had a vast network of roads that crossed the whole empire, altogether about 40 000 km long. This made it easier for the Inca's officials to travel through the empire to keep an eye on all the clans. However, since they had no horses or wheeled vehicles, all travelling was done on foot. Messages and news were sent across the land in a relay system: there were small buildings called 'tambos' all along the roads. A messenger would run with his news to the next tambo, where another messenger would take over. The Incas had a system of writing called 'quipo'. It was not an alphabet, but a system of strings and knots. A number of strings hung from a main string, and each one was knotted. Each knot or series of knots represented an event or a number. In Inca society, every person had to work without pay, because labour was seen as a form of tax. Shortly before the Spaniards came to Peru, the Inca emperor died.

This was followed by a civil war between his two sons. The Spaniards, led by Francisco Pizarro, arrived in 1532 and were able to exploit the situation and capture the already weakened state. Conquest Case Study 2 Francisco Pizarro was the Spanish conqueror of Peru. He left Spain for the West Indies in 1502 and lived on the island of Hispaniola. He was also part of Balboa’s expedition to the Pacific Ocean. Pizarro heard tales of a southern land rich in gold. During the 1520s Pizarro led two expeditions down the west coast of South America and saw the golden ornaments worn by Native Americans of the Inca Empire of Peru. He got permission from the emperor of the King of Spain, Charles V to conquer this land and become its governor. Pizarro raised an army of 180 men to take with him to Peru. Atahualpa, the Inca, or emperor, was captured by the Spaniards, who held him hostage. His followers were tricked into paying a large ransom of silver and gold.

Instead of sparing his life as promised, Pizarro executed Atahualpa on 29 August 1533 and took control of the town of Cajarmaca. Pizarro then marched south and captured the Inca capital at Cuzco. After looting Cuzco, the Spaniards went on to establish control over the rest of the land of the Incas. Without an emperor to lead them, the Incas found it hard to resist the Spanish invasion. They were divided among themselves and their weapons were no match for the guns of the Spaniards. Only one Inca community, which was high up in the mountains and difficult to reach, held out against the conquistadors. It survived as the last Inca stronghold until the Spanish conquered it in 1572 and executed its ruler, Tupac AmarÁº. In 1535, Pizarro set up a new capital at Lima and, as governor, was responsible for bringing many settlers to Peru. Most settlers were involved in mining the vast amounts of silver and gold that existed in Peru. The Spanish were allowed to force the Incas to work for them for low wages.

They used forced labour in the army, to build new cities and to mine silver and gold. You have already heard that conquistadors often fought among themselves. Diego de Almagro, Pizarro’s former partner, fought with Pizarro over Cuzco. The power struggle between Pizarro and Almagro led to the War of Las Salinas in 1538. Almagro was executed, but his son, known as Almagro the Lad, continued the war. Pizarro was murdered in his palace in Lima by followers of Almagro in 1541. This is a portrait of Atahualpa, drawn from life, by a member of Pizarro's detachment, 1533. Source: wikipedia The following information will still be developed for this ‘Incas’ topic: – Slavery and its impact on the Incas – Consequences on the Incas Please contribute activities and content for this section by clicking on the ‘contribute’ button. Resistance to Spanish colonialism The Aztec and Inca Empires covered very large areas and consisted of millions of people. It was only after long and bloodied battles that they gave up their capitals to the invaders.

The European diseases that reduced the population of the indigenous people of the Caribbean islands also affected the Aztecs, and to a lesser degree the Incas. The Spanish were less successful against the people who occupied other areas of Central and South America. These people attacked unexpectedly and took advantage of the fact that they outnumbered the Spanish. In 1542 the Spanish founded the city of Mérida in the north-western corner of Mexico, but they controlled only some of the areas around this city. The biggest part of the peninsula was still ruled by Mayan communities. Resistance Case Study 3 The Spanish encountered particularly fierce resistance from the Auracanian tribes. After the conquest of the Inca Empire, a Spanish force moved southward to found the city of Santiago in 1541. They gained control over the fertile central region of present-day Chile. The Araucanians lived in the southern part of Chile, and resisted Spanish control until well into the nineteenth century. The Spanish built a line of forts to defend their settlements against continuous Araucanian attacks and raids. The Araucanians adapted to the European style of warfare by making spears to fight the Spanish while they were on their horses.

The Araucanians were finally defeated at the end of the 1870s and forced to live in reservations. Resistance Case Study 4 A slave revolt in Haiti: A distinct type of resistance in exploitation colonies was the slave revolt. The most dramatically successful was the Haitian Slave Revolt, on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, led by Francois Dominique Toussaint Louverture. The revolt, lasted from the early 1790s until 1804, when Haiti received its independence. There were many other slave revolts throughout the Caribbean and Brazil. Some of these revolts failed and many slaves who had participated in revolts were brutally tortured and executed. Activity Decide as a class whether you will do this activity on your own or in groups of 5-6 people. Find as much information as you can on ONE of the following civilisations: the Mayas, Aztecs or Incas. Use books in the school or community library as well as the internet. (There are some links in this section that you can use.) The consequences of Colonisation of European expansion on the American indigenous population and the World The arrival of the Europeans and their conquest and colonisation of the Americas transformed this land forever.

Its people were subjugated and with them, hundreds, thousands of years' culture and civilisation were suppressed. Many died of the new diseases the Europeans brought with them. Indigenous religions did not die out, but often had to make way for the European's new religion of Christianity. Shortly after the colonisation, a phenomenal trade in humans began across the Atlantic Ocean, as slaves were needed to work the land and plantations in the Americas. The trans-Atlantic slave trade become one of the most significant and for many, traumatic, periods in world history. But colonial rule was not destined to last in the Americas. By the end of the 18th century, the European settlers of American colonies began to rebel and press for independence. The American War of Independence, or American Revolution, freed the 13 eastern coast colonies from British rule, and paved the way for the establishment of one of the biggest 20th century powers, the United States of America (USA). This revolution was soon followed by liberation struggles all over Latin America in the beginning of the 19th century. By about 1826, most of the Latin American countries were free from colonial rule.

The effects of conquest and colonisation on Native Americans Tthe arrival of the Europeans in America meant that the numbers of the native populations diminished rapidly. For example, the first Native American group that Columbus came into contact with was the Arawaks of Haiti. At that time, about 1502, there were 250 000 Arawaks. But barely 50 years later, had their numbers drastically been reduced to 500. Another 100 years later, they completely died out. The reasons for the decline of the Native American population include warfare with Europeans, enslavement by the conquerors, and the diseases brought from Europe. These diseases might not have been life-threatening in Europe, where over centuries people had built up natural immunity to diseases like chicken pox and measles. But these diseases were unknown in America, and so the Native Americans had not had chance to build up any resistance to them. Those that were fatal to even Europeans, like smallpox, proved to be especially dangerous to the Native Americans. In some cases whole villages were wiped out by European diseases and it is believed that far more than half the Native American population died in this way.

Other diseases that were brought by the Europeans include dysentery, malaria and hookworm. Not only did millions of Native Americans die. The European conquests meant the end of civilisations that were more advanced than those in Europe. Gold, silver and other treasures were taken and a most of these minerals was sent to Europe. Filled with religious zeal, the conquistadors often destroyed temples and other buildings and burned documents, so that a great deal of cultural and historical materials was lost. Enslavement was also common. When the Europeans began to settle in America, they needed slaves to work on their cotton, tobacco and sugar plantations. In many cases whole communities were violently enslaved, like the Arawaks encountered by Columbus. Weakened by disease, the Native Americans were unable to cope with hard manual labour. The Europeans needed alternative labour and Africans slaves proved to be the answer. African workers were strong, worked hard, were immune to many diseases and were easily obtained. How colonization led to the practice of slavery and its impact on these societies The trans-Atlantic slave trade brought millions of African slaves to the Americas. The trade began in the early 16th century.

By the end of the 17th century, about 30 000 slaves were being shipped to the Americas each year. By the end of the 18th century, the number had increased to nearly 80 000 per year. In total, about 11 or 12 million African slaves were taken to the Americas. The Europeans bought the slaves from African traders, mostly in West Africa. The slaves were often prisoners-of-war taken in battles between indigenous African groups. The slaves were kept in forts on the African coast before being transported to America. The conditions in the forts and on the ships were horrendous. There was little space to move or even to go to the bathroom. About 13-30% of the slaves died on the ships. In America, they were auctioned off to their future owners. These slaves often had to work for 10-11 hours per day, six days per week. The conditions and treatment of the slaves were not the same everywhere in the Americas. In some areas, like Brazil, they were often treated worse than in the American South, because there were many more slaves and so they could be easily replaced if they died.

There were a number of revolts against slave masters, but they were usually crushed violently. Detail from a mural by Mexican artist Diego Rivera, which shows an African slave brought to the New World. The mural is called 'Colonial Domination'. Source: Early in the 19th century, the slave trade was banned. This led to some improvement in the treatment of slaves to ensure that they would survive longer. Later that century slavery was banned completely. The legacy of the slave trade and slavery lasted much longer. For many African Americans, who do not know where their African ancestors came from, the slave trade means that a huge part of their background remains a mystery. Slavery in the New World played an enormous role in the economies of America and Europe. People became very wealthy through their plantations, worked by slaves, and through trade with Africa and Europe. For more on History of Slavery and early colonisation Religion Another important aspect of conquest and colonisation is the religion brought by the Europeans, namely Christianity. There were several reasons why the Europeans were eager to conquer the Americas. One was South America's legendary treasures in gold and silver. The other was religious zeal.

Many Spaniards claimed to have gone to the Americas to spread the gospel and convert the Native Americans. It is debatable whether religion or greed played the most important role. For example, in Mexico, the conquistador Hernán Cortés was welcomed by the Aztec emperor, probably because the Aztecs believed that it was their god Quetzalcoatl returning from the eastern sea, as he had promised. The emperor sent Cortés presents of gold and silver. In return, Cortés made alliances with the Aztecs' enemies, destroyed Aztec temples and cities, and erected crosses, a symbol of Christianity, on the ruins. Furthermore, when the Aztecs saw the crosses they became even more convinced that this was the return of their god, since he was the god of crossroads. When the Aztecs realised their mistake, it was too late. The Spaniards defeated them in battle, and finally had not only their land, but their gold and silver as well. But not all Christians who came to the Americas were out to conquer and suppress. Not too long after the Europeans set foot in the Americas, the first Christian missionaries arrived. The Jesuits were especially active in South America.

When Portuguese descendants in Brazil wanted to enslave the indigenous people to work on their sugar plantations, Jesuit priests defended them against the slave masters. The missionaries also did not always impose their own European languages on the people they wanted to convert, and in some cases preached and worked in certain indigenous languages. This helped to expand the local languages and put them into writing. Many of the indigenous people did convert. Today, Christianity is the main religion of Latin America and the Roman Catholic Church the main church, although traditional religious practices still exist. The famous statue of Jesus in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is 30 metres high and was built in the 1920s. Today, Christianity is the main religion in Latin America. Source: library.thinkquest.org Activity Write an essay of 1-2 pages on the following topic: ‘Despite the negative aspects of conquest, the colonisation of America was positive in the long run because it transformed America from a primitive and undeveloped land to one that is civilised and developed’. Do you agree? Remember to structure your essay well.

There has to be an introduction, stating the question which you will answer in the essay; a body in which you give your argument; and a conclusion that brings your argument together and give your opinions on what was asked whether you agree with the statement or not. Your answer does not necessarily have to be right or wrong because you are presenting your opinion with evidence and historical views to support it! Summary of Consequences on the indigenous society and the world Consequences on the indigenous society Disease and forced labour drastically reduced the population of Central America. It is estimated that the population of Mexico was reduced by ninety per cent in the first fifty years after the arrival of the Spanish. In Central and South America, the Spanish settlers eventually intermarried with the Incas and Aztecs as most of the settlers were men. The people of mixed racial descent are known as mestizo and now form the majority of the population. The official language of the former Spanish colonies in the Americas is Spanish but there are many people who still speak their indigenous languages. The indigenous people were also converted to Catholicism which remains the dominant religion in Central and South America.

For further reading on ‘Spaniards in a new world: 16th century AD’ visit : Consequences on the World The expansion of European trade resulted in the colonisation of five continents over a period of five centuries. Using military force, each of the European colonial powers dominated world trade at different times. When one colonial power became weak, another challenged it and replaced it as the dominant power. What was the effect of colonialism on the World Colonial empires became rich and powerful as their empires grew in size. However, colonies were expensive to run, especially if wars were involved. Wars were fought between rival empires who wanted the same land or to defeat rebellious indigenous inhabitants. Europe, in particular Britain, was able to industrialise because of raw materials obtained from colonies and because colonies provided markets for manufactured goods. Slavery did not start because of colonialism; slavery has always existed. However, European powers were able to exploit their colonies and increase their wealth by using slave labour or very cheap indigenous labour. Colonialism did not cause racism, but it helped to reinforce the belief that Europeans were the dominant race and therefore superior and that other races were subordinate and therefore inferior.

On the other hand, colonialism provided opportunities for people of different races, religions and cultures to meet, live and work together. The result of this has been an exchange of ideas, technology and traditions. The spread of Christianity throughout the world was made possible by missionary activities. This was assisted by the expansion of European colonial empires. Church and state worked together to change the indigenous belief systems of the people they ruled. Colonial expansion also brought Christianity into conflict with Islam as European powers challenged Muslim rulers and traders. Montezuma II Biography (Emperor) Birthplace: Tenochitlan (Mexico City), Mexico Best known as: The leader of the Aztecs at the time of the Spanish conquest Montezuma II (also known as Moctezuma II) was trained as a priest and rose to become leader of the Aztecs in 1502. At the time, the Aztecs controlled most of what is now Mexico and Central America, their capital being at the great city of Tenotchitlan (Mexico City).

The story goes that when the Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes arrived in the Aztec lands in 1519, Montezuma thought the Spanish conquerors were descendants of the god Quetzalcoatl. Montezuma allowed the Spaniards to enter Tenotchitlan unopposed, and he was then captured and held hostage by Cortés. The situation ended badly: Montezuma was either stabbed by the Spaniards or killed by a rock to the head thrown by a crowd of his own people, depending on who tells the story. Within a few years of his death, the Spanish had conquered the Aztecs and taken control of what became Mexico. Copyright © 1998-2016 by Who2?, LLC. All rights reserved. Cortes Conquers Aztecs: 1521 Spain © thenagain info All rights reserved. The Conquest of the Aztecs Spain 1521 The Spanish conquest of the Aztecs in 1521, led by Hernando Cortes, was a landmark victory for the European settlers.

Following the Spanish arrival in Mexico, a huge battle erupted between the army of Cortes and the Aztec people under the rule of Montezuma. The events that occurred were crucial to the development of the American lands and have been the subject of much historical debate in present years. Back to "Later Empires" Chronology The Spaniards landed on the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico in 1519, where they found the advanced society of the Aztecs. The Aztec Empire stretched along the Valley of Mexico, and Tenochititlan was its capital. The Aztecs had substantial wealth from trading and heavy payments of tribute from conquered peoples. From 1200-1520 the Aztecs flourished and expanded their empire greatly. By the time Hernando Cortes landed in Mexico with his 600 soldiers, the Aztecs were in control of most of present-day Mexico. The expansion of the Aztecs, however, ended with the Spanish Conquest. A major element of Aztec life was religion. A polytheistic people, they often practiced human sacrifice to please their gods.

According to legend, the god Quetzalcoatl, characterized by light skin, red hair, and light eyes, was supposed to return to earth. This appearance is remarkably similar to European appearance, and may be why the Aztecs originally greeted the Spaniards with food, gold, and women. The Spaniards, however, approached the Aztecs with an entirely different attitude. They had a strong sense of supremacy and intended to convert the natives to Christianity. But their ministering methods were radical. The Spaniards gathered the natives together and shouted the essentials of the Gospel, oblivious to the fact that the Aztecs did not understand their language. If the natives refused to fall to their knees and repent, the Spaniards assumed they were rejecting the word of God and killed or enslaved them. Upon arrival in North America, Hernando Cortes founded the colony of New Spain in Mexico. On November 8, 1519, he challenged the native forces and entered Tenochititlan, taking the Aztec leader, Montezuma, hostage. This event led to an Aztec uprising that culminated in La Noche Triste.

The Aztecs drove the Spaniards out of Tenochititlan in July of 1520. Men from both sides, as well as many Aztec treasures, were lost as a bridge collapsed during the desperate flight of the Spaniards. Nevertheless, Cortes survived, and led the final attacks on Tenochititlan. Throughout the warfare, the Spaniards were aided by the gruesome advantage of disease, for the Europeans brought ailments that the Aztecs had no immunity to. It is estimated that three-quarters of the native population died of violence or diseases like small pox and measles in just the first century of the conquest. Finally, the Aztec capital fell on August 13, 1521. After capturing Tenochititlan, the Spaniards destroyed the city, and built Mexico City on top of it. Just as Tenochititlan was destroyed, most of the Aztec civilization was destroyed with the European Spain Conquest. Aside from this negative aspect of the European discovery of the New World, the Spaniards had some positive effects on the native population. They introduced domestic animals like horses, sheep, cattle, and pigs to the American Continent.

Furthermore, they brought sugar, and different kinds of grains and fruits with them. The discovery of the New World also had a significant impact on the European diet, as the Spaniards brought important products like potatoes, tomatoes, beans and maize back to Europe. Despite these benefits, the Spanish defeat of the Aztecs has been criticized extensively for many years. It is the center of a huge historical debate focusing on the role of the conquerors. The Spaniards were harsh in their methods and motives, and many people argue that it was not their place at all to encounter new lands and demand control, much less force submission so cruelly. Moreover, virtually all of Aztec culture was carelessly destroyed in the conquest. Nevertheless, the Spaniards did conquer the Aztecs, and whether Western civilization is richer or poorer, this victory has had lasting effects for both native and European Spain people. Sources: Matthews, Roy T. and F. DeWitt Platt. Western Humanities. Spain (Mountain View, CA; Mayfield Publishing Co.,1995) Sullivan, Richard E., Dennis Sherman and John B. Harrison. A Short History of Western Civilization.

(Palatino, CA; McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1994) Wood, Michael. Legacy - The Search for Ancient Cultures. (New York; Sterling Publisher Co., 1994) Edited by: Sara Bussema

Question: Who was the Emperor of the Aztecs at the time of the Spanish conquest?
Answer: MONTEZUMA